We’re so glad you’re asking this question. Many women who used the abortion pill method (a medical abortion) felt unprepared for the amount of bleeding and other side effects they experienced.
Because there’s no direct medical oversight with this method, you would need to determine if you’re bleeding more than you should. Heavy bleeding during a medical abortion can point to other serious complications.
Knowing how much bleeding to expect is critical. Let’s take a closer look at this aspect of the abortion pill method and others that you may not be aware of.
Why Would There Be Heavy Bleeding?
The regimen for the abortion pill involves taking two drugs to end a pregnancy. Mifepristone, the first drug, blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Without this hormone, the pregnancy cannot continue.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping to expel the pregnancy and tissue from the body. The amount of bleeding varies from person to person.
The FDA approves the use of the drugs for a medical abortion through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. Heavier bleeding may occur if you’ve been pregnant for a longer number of weeks and days. You have a greater potential for complications after 10 weeks, too.
How Much Is Too Much?
You’re advised to contact your healthcare provider if you’re bleeding through two or more thick maxi pads per hour for two hours in a row. You may also pass large blood clots.
You’re also encouraged to contact your provider if you don’t bleed for 24 hours after taking misoprostol. This may be a sign that your pregnancy is ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy forms outside the uterus and isn’t affected by the abortion drugs. If not attended to, it can cause life-threatening complications.
Other symptoms that may indicate you need to go to the ER include dizziness, severe abdominal or back pain, and signs of infection. Those signs include a fever that lasts for more than 24 hours and a foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
Additional Concerns to Be Aware Of
Heavy bleeding isn’t the only concern you should be aware of. There is also the potential for an incomplete abortion. “Incomplete” means the pregnancy has ended, but the body doesn’t expel all of the pregnancy tissue. The remaining tissue in your body could cause an infection and other complications.
Women have also reported that they were unprepared for the amount of pain they would experience. Abortion providers say it’s similar to menstrual cramps, but some women have indicated severe abdominal and pelvic pain.
How Can Cecil Pregnancy and Family Resource Center Assist Me?
You owe it to yourself to be fully informed about abortion procedures, the side effects to expect, and possible risks. Although we do not refer for abortion, we’ll always provide factual, medically based information.
If you’re considering using the abortion pill method, it’s crucial to learn everything you can about your pregnancy and health first. We’ll confirm your pregnancy with medical-grade pregnancy testing and an obstetric ultrasound at no cost to you.
Your health and safety matter to us. Contact us by filling out our confidential contact form, chatting with us online, or calling (410) 398-7888. Let us be your resource for the facts.
Cecil Pregnancy & Family Resource Center does not perform or refer for abortion.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.